Mr. Coffee [words: 1,009]

Mia and Diego had spent the night together on the evening of their first date. After all, they already knew one another well as co-workers. The dinner date was, if anything, a formality in terms of the step forward in their relationship.

The sun was low that morning, as groggy as the two of them were as it sulked under the LA smog on the dawn horizon. It threw a red hue over Mia’s pale silk robe as she shuffled into the kitchen once they’d forced themselves out of bed.

After all– they had work in a few hours.

At this hour, Diego shuffled rather than sauntered as he followed along into the kitchen with a sharp yawn. It seemed the coffee was probably for more than just the taste of it. Not a surprise. The life of a lawyer was a delicate tightrope between exhaustion and productivity.

He glanced over at her, before his grin lit up his face.

“You look gorgeous this mornin’, kitten. Like the sunrise itself.” The flirty banter was somewhat interrupted by another of his low yawns.

Mia laughed incredulously, and crossed her arms as she leaned against the refrigerator.

“Oh, a flatterer, are we? I haven’t even brushed my hair yet. You’re seeing the real Mia, now.”

Diego wasn’t wearing a shirt this morning, only a pair of pajama pants emblazoned with a rather silly print of ‘don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee’ cups.

His own dark hair was mussed and tangled as it fell over one eye, which trailed over her for a long moment.

“The real Mia eh? Dunno, kitten. I think I might like this one best.” He winked “Hope the real Diego ain’t too much of a letdown.”

He leaned against the countertop, his hands reaching for the supplies for coffee without even having to look. Some beans, a glass pot, a filter– unfortunately he wasn’t in his own kitchen, and he’d never been in Mia’s before.

That was when the horror set in.

Mia had a Mr. Coffee machine.

“Oh, no letdown at all,” she smiled, watching him. “I rather like the genuine article myself. What are you looking for?”

Diego squinted at the Mr. Coffee machine.

One of those big, blocky, ubiquitous automatic drippers that almost everyone used. Well, the ones who didn’t use the plastic pods. Those were admittedly even worse. At least Mr. Coffee used actual coffee grounds.

“…….oh, Kitten….” He pointed to it with a tired smile. “Please tell me you don’t use that thing. You got a pot around here, right?”

She cocked her head curiously.

“A pot? Like– the part that goes under the drippy part?” She eyed the large glass carafe that sat in the machine. There was a fine, dull patina of old coffee built up at the bottom. “That’s a top of the line machine, you know.”

Diego looked like he’d seen a ghost.

“I see it, hon. I see it. It’s top of the line, but the top of the line doesn’t go very far.” He leaned on the counter toward her with a wry smile her way. “Mia, honey. If this has been whatcha been getting by on? That’s a genuine tragedy. Mr. Coffee’s a shyster, selling you coffee flavored water by the drip.”

“A shyster?” she laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Well how do you make coffee then? Don’t tell me you just will it into existence.”

Diego leaned on his hand, grinning at her.

“I pour it myself. Kettle. Filter. Grounds. Doesn’t even take that long, and you get a nice, even strain through the grounds for a damn good cup of coffee.” He stood up with a stretch. “Of course, when I want espresso, I gotta use my espresso machine. But for a good cup of black coffee? Pour overs work just fine.”

She crossed her arms and gave him a very dubious look.

“I’m sorry, Diego– are you telling me that you make coffee by hand? Before you’ve had your coffee in the morning??”

Diego siddled over toward her and leaned on the fridge right next to her, putting his bare shoulder against the silky fabric of her robe.

“It ain’t that hard, kitten. Ain’t more than sitting there and pouring water from a kettle. The taste’s worth it, trust me.” He gestured to the Mr. Coffee “Once you try it, Mr. Coffee’d be in the doghouse for sure.”

“In the doghouse,” she repeated. “Well, I’d love to see your magic trick, but unfortunately I don’t have the equipment. So why don’t you take me to your favorite coffee place for the morning– and then tonight we’ll stay at your place, and you can show me the magic trick.”

Well, that certainly sounded like he was getting a second date! His smile grew a little wider as he leaned in and kissed her cheek.

“Your wish is my command, Kitten. I’ll make you the best damn cup of coffee you’ve ever had…tomorrow. Today, though…I know a little cafe that does pretty good work. It ain’t even that far from old Marvin’s office.”

Mia turned toward him and scooped her arms around his waist. She pulled herself against his chest, nuzzling her soft cheek against his stubbly one.

“Sounds perfect, handsome.”

“I’ll be sure to break out the good beans for you, kitten,” he murmured into her ear.

She giggled, and smiled a wry smile at him.

“And hey, if you really wow me with that coffee tomorrow morning, maybe I’ll even give you the privilege of buying me the stuff for my apartment.”

His arm wrapped around her shoulders, drawing her against him as he leaned against the counter.

“Who can say no to a great privilege like that?” Especially if it means maybe you’ll invite me over more often to teach you how to use ‘em.”

“I think I could see my way around to that, Diego. Then I can get rid of the machine, and you’ll be the only Mr. Coffee in my kitchen.”